Exchange your driving licence in Glarus
You're moving to Glarus, Switzerland, and want to keep driving? Compare local instructor profiles for preparation. Your cantonal road traffic office checks the exchange requirements for your issuing country and licence category.
At a glance
- Driving entitlement 12 months from arrival; then no driving until exchanged
- Issuing country Check exemptions includes UK, USA and other non-EU countries
- Control drive If required one attempt; conducted in German in Zurich
- Costs Budget each item authority, eye test, lessons and test car
Road traffic office Glarus
Application, eye-test submission and control-drive registration run through the cantonal road traffic office.
DriveLab in Glarus
Assessment with a local instructor: discuss driving experience, Swiss rules, teaching language and vehicle.
See instructors →Instructors in Glarus
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Four steps to the Swiss driving licence
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1
Application at the road traffic office
Check the requirements for your issuing country and all requested categories with your canton of residence. Submit the application well before the twelve-month driving entitlement expires.
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2
Eye test, photo and original documents
Zurich, for example, requires the completed form, recorded eye test (valid for two years), a current photo, original identity or residence document and original foreign licence. A recognised translation is required for non-Latin script; first-time applicants attend an identity check in person.
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3
Control drive or additional theory, if required
The authority tells you which assessments apply. An assessment lesson can identify the rules and situations you need to practise. No particular test route or successful result can be guaranteed.
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4
Exchange and Swiss licence
Submit your foreign licence as instructed. Zurich states 10–14 working days for delivery when no control drive is required. The issuing country, category and additional assessments affect the process; also confirm whether you may drive while it is being processed.
The control drive – what you need to know
The examiner checks your traffic-rule knowledge, vehicle control and safe driving in real traffic. Prepare priorities, 30 km/h zones, roundabouts, lane changes and motorways alongside safe vehicle handling. Do not assume that manoeuvres are excluded; follow the requirements and invitation from your road traffic office. In Zurich, the control drive is in German and cannot be repeated after a failed attempt.
Three priorities for your preparation
- Assess your current driving and agree specific practice goals. A local lesson does not guarantee any particular test route.
- Practise Swiss rules across different situations: priority to the right, 30 km/h zones, motorway slip roads, roundabouts and anticipation.
- Confirm the test vehicle with the authority and instructor; practise its controls and German driving directions. Check availability and terms before relying on a driving-school car.
Requirements depend on the issuing country and category
EU/EFTA and the United Kingdom
- For these issuing countries, Zurich requires neither a control drive nor an additional theory test: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
- The country that issued your valid driving licence matters, not your citizenship.
- The application, original licence, eye test, photo and cantonal identity requirements still apply. Check processing times with the responsible office.
Other countries with exemptions
- No control drive: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Morocco, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Singapore, Taiwan, Tunisia and the USA. Taiwan’s exemption is limited to categories A1 and B.
- For category B, this group also requires no additional theory test. Additional requirements apply to C, D, C1, D1 and professional passenger transport.
- Have the requested categories and any professional use checked explicitly. An exemption for private car driving does not automatically cover every category.
Other issuing countries and special categories
A licence from a country not listed above generally requires a control drive, for example an Indian or Brazilian licence. An entire region such as Asia is not one uniform assessment group. Validity, categories and restrictions are checked individually.
Higher categories and professional driving have additional requirements. EU/EFTA professional drivers generally have twelve months to exchange; holders from other issuing countries must clarify the exchange before their first professional drive. Have the authority confirm the control drive, additional theory and categories to be transferred.
Already past twelve months? Do not continue driving until the exchange is resolved. Missing the deadline alone does not automatically require the entire training process. Apply to your canton and clarify any additional evidence or authorisation for preparation and assessment.
Official licence-exchange sources
DriveLab editorial team · Information checked on 20 September 2026. The country overview follows current Canton Zurich information. Your canton of residence decides on your application; check its requirements for your category and professional use.
Ready for your control drive?
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